1And when Rehoboam got back to Jerusalem, he mustered the men of Judah and Benjamin - a hundred eighty thousand warriors, to fight against Israel, to try to restore the kingdom for Rehoboam. 2But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, the man of God, 3“Speak to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, and say, 4‘This is what the LORD says, “Do not go to fight against your fellow Israelites. Return to your homes; for what is happening is My doing.”’” And they obeyed the words of God, and returned from marching against Jeroboam.

5And Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem, and built defensive cities in Judah: 6Bethlehem; Etam; Tekoa; 7Beth-zur; Soco; Adullam; 8Gath; Mareshah; Ziph; 9Adoraim; Lachish; Azekah; 10Zorah; Aijalon; and Hebron; all fortified cities within Judah and Benjamin. 11And he strengthened their strongholds, and stationed officers, and stored supplies of food, oil, and wine in them, 12As well as shields and spears, to ensure that that he could hold Judah and Benjamin as his.

13And the priests and Levites from all over Israel resorted to him from their districts; 14The Levites left their suburban lands and property, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; because Jeroboam and his sons had prevented them from serving the LORD as priests; 15And Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve in the pagan high places, where they worshipped satyrs (he-goats), and the calf idols that he had made. 16And those of all the tribes of Israel, that sincerely wanted to seek and worship the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. 17And so they strengthened Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and the kingdom of Judah; and for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

18And Rehoboam married Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, a son of David, and Abihail, a daughter of Eliab, a son of Jesse; 19And Mahalath bore him three sons: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham. 20And after her, he married Maachah, a daughter of Absalom; who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21And Rehoboam loved Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines. All in all, he had eighteen wives, and sixty concubines; and he fathered twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters. 22And Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maachah, crown prince among his brothers; indicating his intent to make him king. 23And he acted wisely, by disbursing some of his sons throughout all the territories of Judah and Benjamin, and every fortified city; and gave them abundant provisions. And he procured many wives for them.